Friday, December 18, 2009

Besides Penang and Selangor which will implement "Free Plastic Day" beginning year 2010, we also have Miri City Council to thank for their effort in this area since 6 September 2009. Hopefully others will follow suit.It will not be easy to immediately change people's habit, however this is not a mission impossible. Keep up your good work and BRAVO TO ALL!Sources :http://www.moeswk.gov.my/kaska/backoffice/remotefullstory_miri.asp?mode=715

The Miri City Council through its Miri Local Agenda 21 is glad to announce that the “Sunday Is No Plastic Bag Day” campaign will kick-off this Sunday, 6 September 2009.

The Objectives of Campaign:

* To create awareness among the public on the dangers of expansive use of plastic* To reduce or minimize the plastic usage starting from shopping complexes by using recyclable shopping bags* To encourage public from various levels to participate in environmental programme

It was noticed that during last Sunday launching day (30/08/2009) some Supermarkets have taken the initiative to start the campaign on the same day and had received favourable and positive responses.

Shoppers are reminded to “bring their own shopping bags” because participating Hypermarket and Supermarket / Departmental Stores will not be issuing plastic bag for free on Sunday. However, should the shoppers still require a plastic bag, they can purchase one for RM0.20 and all these charges collected will be donated to charitable organizations or NGOs by the individual outlets. As an alternative, some Hypermarket / Supermarket will also be selling “Ecobags” at a discount price provided the “Ecobags” was filled with purchased items on Sunday.

It was indeed a welcoming move by the participating outlets, and to date, the following stores / Supermarkets have agreed and confirmed participation.

The Council on its parts will continue to intensify its publicity campaign through RTM, local media, banner and intended to print publicity posters to be distributed to all Local Agenda 21 Stakeholders, like government depts., schools, private sectors, NGOs, residents committee and kampong.

The Council has also decided to look into action plan to extend the campaign to other business outlets including hawkers stalls and markets.

Malaysia’s participation at the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit is not merely a diplomatic commitment but a mission to determine the survival of the world in the next century.

Although the country is not in danger of sinking as a result of rising sea level due to global warming, like the Maldives, it will still feel the repercussions from greenhouse gas emissions.

According to a report from the Drainage and Irrigation Department, the country’s coastal line has narrowed by about 40m due to erosion at 33 locations.

There were also drastic climate changes like unpredictable rain and thunderstorms in the capital, as well as drought in some states.

Also, the Fourth Assessment Report by the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) stated that 1,200 sq km of the country’s coastline would be under water due to sea-level rise if no measures were taken to tackle global warming.

It was also reported that major towns in the region had been affected by global warming and that this had caused drought episodes in parts of Malaysia.

The IPCC study noted that Malaysia would experience a temperature rise of between 0.6°C and 4.5°C by 2060, which explained the need for Malaysia to be at the summit.

We are here to send a bigger message, that developing countries (and poor countries) will be affected if the issue on global warming continues,” he said.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will join more than 100 world leaders, including US President Barack Obama, in the final stages of the summit to thrash out a global deal, including how much industrialised countries are willing to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

The leaders will discuss the creation of an international green fund to provide developing countries with financial and technical resources to create a carbon-free economy.

The fund is crucial, particularly for poor nations forced to use cheap technology to develop their countries,” Dr Kamarulnizam said.

What is certain, is that the Copenhagen summit is expected to tackle the “weaknesses” of the Kyoto Protocol adopted in 1997, due to an absence of a regulatory body to ensure the agreement signed by 184 countries, is implemented.

As a result, the objective of the protocol was not met. The United States did not sign the Kyoto Protocol.

Prof Dr Suhaimi Abdul Talib, from Universiti Teknologi Mara, said global warming was a serious issue because of its effects on developing countries, like Malaysia.

“The well-being of our environment will assure the well-being of our economy,” said Prof Suhaimi, adding that the Copenhagen summit would be a venue for the world community to unite and collectively tackle problems of global warming.

In that context, he said Malaysia’s role would include voicing the hope of poor countries. — Bernama

The Prime Minister will be among more than 110 world leaders who will meet in Copenhagen next week to try and clinch a deal on deeper emissions cuts by rich nations, steps by developing nations to cut their carbon pollution and finance to help the poor adapt to climate change.

“We are willing to offer our commitment. I am not just going to call on the developed world. I am going to commit Malaysia to very credible cuts which means we have to spend, which we will do,” Najib said yesterday, adding that the cuts were still being worked on.

The United Nations has said a full, legal treaty to expand or replace the existing Kyoto Protocol is out of reach at the talks, after two years of troubled negotiations, and is likely to be agreed some time in 2010.

UN data shows Malaysia’s carbon emissions in 2006 stood at 187 million tones or 7.2 tonnes from each Malaysian. Although that figure is far less than neighbouring Indonesia, which is the world’s third largest emitter with 2.3 billion tonnes or 10 tonnes per capita, according to Indonesian government data, Najib said all nations must contribute.

“It has to be predicated on the fundamental principles of the Kyoto protocol and the UN Framework on Climate Convention,“ he said.

“Amongst which the most important being the common but differentiated responsibilities that the developed world must deliver against larger cuts in terms of carbon emissions and that the developing world should be assisted particularly in terms of financial assistance, capacity building and technology.”

Najib said that despite the current economic turmoil, which has seen the United States and Europe plunge into huge budget deficits, the fight against climate change had to take priority.

In the longer term, the United Nations estimates the fight against global warming is likely to cost US$300bil a year from 2020, largely to help developing nations adapt to impacts such as droughts, floods and heat waves.

“If we really talking about it, we must walk the talk (on funding). Otherwise we are just going to face a very uncertain future and the effects will be quite catastrophic,” Najib said. — Reuters

Malaysian youth is fighting for justice – justice for the climate, that is.

ON Oct 24, more than 100 Malaysian youths appeared seemingly out of nowhere at the Suria KLCC and Pavilion shopping malls in Kuala Lumpur and started dancing and chanting: “Oh, it’s hot in here. There’s too much carbon in the atmosphere!”, to the amusement of thousands of tourists and shoppers. They did this for about a minute, then quickly dispersed just as suddenly as they had arrived.

What was that all about? It was the MyCJN-350 Dance for the Planet event, held to mark International Day of Climate Action. The youths are members of the Malaysian Youth Climate Justice Network (MyCJN), a group that is determined to have its say on the well-being of the planet that they will inherit.

MyCJN was formed in June by five young people: Tam Kar Lye Tam, Lalitha Muthusamy, Khairun Nisa Mohamed Zabidi, Emily Chan Li Yu, and Adrian Yeo. Rather than an actual organisation, MyCJN is a network of environmentally concerned youths. While some of the founders remain actively involved in MyCJN activities, they are neither the movement’s “committee” nor leaders (in fact, only two of them are in Malaysia at this present time).

The group thrives on being a decentralised network of people who come together during projects, and relies heavily on the Internet to spread their message and get members. A good measure of how large a “membership” they currently have is their Facebook page – they currently have more than 1,100 members, and the number is growing each day.

MyCJN is not an organisation per se where one applies to be a member. It is more a network of like-minded people, and is meant to be a platform for young people to engage each other,” said Gan Pei Ling, 22, a student of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman.

Environmental management graduate Leong Shen Nyan, 24, concurred. “It is a very interest-based network of people who are just interested in doing their part for the environment. If you want to run an environment project, all you have to do is announce it on the network to ask for help in getting manpower and resources.”

These projects can be anything, ranging from Gan’s October initiative of writing letters to Cabinet members urging them to act on climate change proposal, to the Dance for the Planet event and in the case of Chironjit Das (better known as Ron), flying to Bangkok to attend a United Nations conference on climate change.

“The purpose of the Bangkok trip was to connect with other like-minded youth from around the world, as well as the Malaysian delegation. We also wanted to find out what Malaysia’s role and stand on climate change is,” said Ron, 22.

MyCJN also helped organise a series of Conversations on Climate in August to provoke thoughts on the issue, and the Environmental Sustainability Leadership Symposium 2009 that guided 39 youths on green leadership.

YOUTH AT UN MEET

MyCJN is part of the Global Youth Climate Justice movement, which has a six-month action plan leading up to the UN climate meeting in Copenhagen next week. One of the MyCJN founding member, Adrian Yeo, is already in Copenhagen to aid youth initiatives and plan a conference for youth.

Gan and nine others will also be heading for Copenhagen as part of the Global Youth Climate Justice Network, through funding from the US Embassy and WWF.

Yeo is convinced that the youth can make a difference in efforts to heal the climate. “Our presence at the conference is of utmost importance. We need to show that we know the science, and that we are directly affected by the deal that world leaders are signing on to. They need to be reminded that all of us are someone’s son or daughter, and keep in mind the sustainability of our future,” he said via e-mail.

But will the elders in charge of the country and the world listen to a bunch of kids dancing and chanting in the streets? Well, considering the fact that MyCJN is only about six months old, it has got its voice heard.

“The Selangor Government recently invited us to attend the draft meeting for the Selangor Environmental Draft,” said Ron.

They were not taken seriously at the beginning, said Ron. “When we met the Malaysian delegation, they were very dismissive of us initially. You could see it in their faces. But in the end, many of them were impressed with us, as we knew our facts and were serious about what we were doing.”

While tangible change is still elusive at this stage, the progress that MyCJN has had so far bodes well for the organisation.

“We are building the foundation and getting the word out that we are a group of young people who wants to be heard,” said Leong.

“The whole idea of MyCJN is to empower Malaysian youths to take action. Our focus is to ensure the youth has a voice because if we don’t do something now, we will be the ones suffering the consequences in future,” Ron added.

Well, if the flash dance mob on Oct 24 is anything to go by, they certainly have gained attention. Sure, it’s just a lot of noise right now but give these young people some time. The future is theirs after all.

UN report - Livestock's Long Shadow

MEAT EATING IS A MAJOR CAUSE OF GLOBAL WARMING-Over 70% of Amazon rainforest is cut down for meat production.-Livestock produces MORE GREENHOUSE GASES than all WORLDWIDE TRANSPORTATION COMBINED.

"Livestock are one of the most significant contributors to today's most serious environmental problems. Urgent action is required to remedy the situation."-Dr. Henning Steinfeld, Chief of Livestock Information and Policy Branch, FAO of United Nations

Scientist says:

" WHY must we be reticent about recommending a diet which we know is safe and healthy? We, as scientists, can no longer take the atttitude that the public cannot benefit from information they are not ready for. I personally have great faith in the public. We must tell them that a diet of roots, stems, seeds, flowers, fruits and leaves is the healthiest diet and the only diet we can promote, endorse, and recommend." -Colin Campbell, PhD(Director of the Cornell-China-Oxford Project on Nutrition, Health and Environment)